Running-gear for vehicles



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. A.. BEH'LEN. RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES. No. 440,871. Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

.0. 'A. 'BEHLEN.

' RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHIG-LES.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

q vitwaooe a awe/Mica: 1% @544 CHARLES A. BEHLEN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,871, dated November 18, 1890.

Application filed March 27, 1890. Serial No. 345,477. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BEHLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Running-Gear for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

While my invention relates generally to the running-gear for vehicles, it applies more particularly to fifth-wheels, and has for its objects the addition of strength and durability, enabling the wheel to be applied not only to light vehicles, as at present, but also to the heaviest class as well. Besides these features my improved fifth-wheel, while less expensive than others now in use, adds much to the finish of the vehicle to which it may be applied.

The advantages of the foregoing, as well as others to be hereinafter enumerated, will be apparent from the description herein contained, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section taken through the front part of a vehicle, as a buggy, the rear portion not being shown. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view of the bottom portion of my fifth-wheel as it appears when attached to the head-block and axle, the upper segment being removed. Fig. 3 is aview showing the perforated lug on the axle-plate of the lower segment and the bottom axleplate for the reception of the duplex kingbolt. Fig. 4 is a front View of the spring, head-block, fifth-wheel, axle, and axle-bed, the whole being held together by the ordinary clips and nuts. Fig. 5 is a view showing the various parts of my wheel discon-- nected, but in a line with one another, ready to be fastened in their proper positions. Fig. 6 is a central vertical section taken through the hub of the perch-plate and guard-iron in a line with thev king-bolt and shows my lock and wear-compensating washer in position. Fig. 7 shows modified shapes which can be given to the duplex king-bolt or retaining-pin so as to prevent its turning, as will be presently explained.

The letter A indicates the buggy-body, which is hung to the spring-bar Y by means of the body-loops L in the ordinary manner.

S represents an ordinary elliptic end spring, the leaves of which are indicated by the letters i n m. The body of the vehicle is represented as unloaded, carrying no weight.

B indicates the usual head-block, and O the axle-bed, While D is the axle.

E is the perch, which in this instance is a double one.

F is the upper perch-plate, while G is the lower perch-plate and fifth-wheel stay or guard-iron combined.

II and I are the two segments which co1npose my fifth-wheehH being the upper, While I is the lower. II is attached to the headblock B by means of the usual clips 0 h, which also embrace the spring S and hold it firmly in position on the head-block. The ends of the clips pass through the ordinary perforated lugs Z Z on cross-plate T and are there held by nuts a, as indicated.

The ears e e on each end of the plate T are for the ordinary purpose-tl1at of holding the head-block securely in position con jointly with the clips 0 7L.

Forming an integral part of cross-plate T is a depending shank P, which in turn is integrally united to the upper perch-plate F. Below the point of unison between the shank and said perch-plate the former may be hollowed out for the purpose of forming a socket, in which can rest the forward end of the perch itself, though this is not essential, but may be found a convenient auxiliary. The end of the shank P is designed to rest on the lower perch-plate Gr, as indicated more clearly in Fig. l.

The under segment I of my fifth-wheel has a cross-plate \V, which is designed to rest 011 the top portion of axle-bed 0.

ll is the under axle-plate, which is also provided with perforated lugs c a. By means of the clips 1 2 and nuts 3 a this under segment is rigidly secured to the axle bed and axle.

5 6 indicate the ears on the plate W, which embrace the axlebed, While 7 and 8 indicate the perforated lugs on the said plates W and H, which receive my duplex king-bolt K. The exterior of this king-bolt conforms to the shape of the perforated lugs 7 8. This shape may be of any angular form, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, or it may take the shapes, for instance, as seen in Fig. 7. In other words, its exterior should consist of some angular shape in order to prevent it from turning in its retainers. The top of this retainin g-pin K is provided with a flange t, whereby the pin can be seated on the perforated lug 7. Above the flange tis a spindle p, whereon rests the plate T of the upper segment, while the lower portion of the retaining-pin has a like spindle m, which rests in the hub j of the combined guard-iron and lower perchplate. The retaining-pin K is tubularthroughout its length, and in this tubular portion fits the king-bolt proper, which is indicated by the letter M, as seen in Figs. 2 and 6.

The under side of the lower segment I is provided with a peripheral shoulder or flange U, which fits into a correspondingly-shaped slot 11 in the head of the guard-iron G. The said shoulder is more plainly indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

To compensate forthe frictional wear of the parts around the bolt lWI without loosening or taking apart any of the work, I make use of the washer X, which encircles the bolt M and occupies a position midway between the lock-nut 9 and the end of spindle m. This compensating washer consists of a hollow spindle provided with a shoulder, as seen. The spindle portion entering the recess in hub j, it will readily be seen that should any wear occur it can be easily taken up and compensated by screwing up the lock-nut 9, which impinges against the face of said shoulder, thus tightening the said washer and accomplishing the result desired. 7

The various parts and the positions they occupy having been detailed, I will now proceed to explain the utility of my improvements.

By the use of the peripheral flange operating in the slot formed in the head of the guard-iron I am enabled to keep the segments in a line true to one another, thus preventing an unequal strain on any part.

By using the plate H, I afford a support for the axle that is much greater than is obtained by the use of the clip cross-pieces.

By using the tubular retaining-pin in connection with the bolt M, thus forming what I would term a duplex king-bolt, together with the perforated lugs on plates WV and H, as well as the compensating washer X, I secure the parts firmly together, besides holding the axle rigidly in its proper position. As before stated, this retaining-pin K can be made of any desired shape, the only qualification necessary being that its contour be such that it will prevent its twisting or turning in the embracing-lugs. A key-such as is shown in Fig. 7-made to enter a slot in the perforated lug or lugs will answer the purpose admirably.

By using the wheel herein shown and described all the parts must break before rendering it uselessthat is to say, the connection at the point where the perch is secured, that at the point where the head of the guardiron and the top segment are bolted together, as also the duplex king-bolt fastening. All these must fail before the partsare or can be rendered inoperative, which failure at one and the same time is very improbable. If but one of these connections remain, the use of the device is practicable.

By the use of the solid and rounded depending shank I am enabled to bring the perch close to the axle and obtain a greater sweep or turn of the segments than heretofore.

The above are some of the principal features of my invention; but there are others which to those skilled in the art will readily be perceived.

It may be well to state here that should it from any reason be deemed desirable the retaining-pin K may be cast integrally with the perforated lug 7 011 cross-plate W, thus obtaining the same results as if the two parts were separate, as indicated in the drawings.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fifth-wheel, the duplex king-bolt consisting of the retaining tubular pin K, one of whose sides bears flat against the axle and axle-bed, the bolt M, and its retaining-nut 9, in combination with the perforated lugs 7 8 on cross-plates W and H, respectively, the combined guard-iron and perch-plate G, upper and lower segments 1-1 I, attached, respectively, in the usualway, and depending shankPbetWeen upper perch-plate and cross-plate T of the upper segment, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes specified.

2. A duplex king-bolt for a fifth-wheel, consisting of a tubular sheath K, provided with upper and lower spindles p m, flange t, and the contained bolt M, in combination with the hub j on combined guard-iron and perchplate Gr, retaining-lugs forming a part of crossplates IV and II, the segments H I, and the depending solid shank behind the duplex king-bolt and midway between the perchplate F and the integral cross-plate T of upper segment I-I, all substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes noted.

3. In a duplex king-bolt for a fifth-wheel, a compensating washer X, provided with a spindle which encircles the bolt M and finds lodgment in a recess of the hub j and against the lower spindle of pin K, in combination with the nut 9, which impinges against the outer face of said washer, substantially as shown and described.

In a fifth-wheel, the following elements:

the duplex king-bolt contiguous to and in the rear of the axle and retainers 7.8 on crossplates 7 and H, respectively, in combination with segments H and I, the latter having a peripheral shoulder which operates in a slot on the combined perch-plate and guard-iron G, shank P, dependin from cross-plate T, to-

gether with perch-plate F, all substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes specified.

CHARLES A. BEHLEN. Witnesses:

THEO. W. MEADER, J ERE. F. TWOHIG. 

